Burglar-proof vault.



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JAMES D. BANKER,

or TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

BURGLAR-PROOF VAULT.

Application filed January 11, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES D. BANKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of Washington, have invented a new and useful Burglar-Proof Vault, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to safes and safety deposit vaults, and has for its object to so improve the construction thereof that it is rendered burglar proof.

Further objects are to cheapen the construction and to protect the contents thereof from fire.

I attain these and other objects by the devices, mechanisms, and arrangements illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a vertical section of my improved vault; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of a portion thereof, showing the door; Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a building equipped with my improved vault.

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

This invention comprises a vault whose walls, floor, and ceiling are constructed so as to hold water under high pressure. The floor of the vault is preferably constructed as shown in Fig. 1, consisting of a steel receptacle formed of lower and upper plates, 1 and 2 respectively, separated by side plates 3 and suitably braced at intervals by spacers 4:. This receptacle is made to stand'water under high pressure on the interior thereof without leakage. Asuitable supply of water at high pressure, illustrated in Fig. 1 by the tank 5, is connected to the receptacle by means of a pipe 6 which is preferably concealed within the walls of the building. A valve 7 is adapted to shut 01f the said conmotion and is operated by the hand wheel 8 within the vault. The walls and ceiling of the vault are constructed with a series of pipes 9, each entering into the receptacle at the base by passing through the upper plate 2 thereof. These pipes 9 may be cross-connected by pipes 10. The pipes are placed too close together to allow any person to pass between them. The body 11 of the walls is formed of concrete cast around the said pipes 9 and 10. A doorway is left in one of the walls and may be of any approved form.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

Serial No. 670,535.

The door consists of an outer. water receptacle formed of two parallel plates 12 and 13 connected together and fitting the door opening and adapted to hold water under pressure between them, and a lock section 14: in which the lock mechanism and bolts are mounted. The lock mechanism is operated by any approved device which passes through the water receptacle of the door by a pipe 15. A flexible pipe 16 connects the water receptacle of the door, by passing through the plate 12 thereof, to one of the main pipes 9. This pipe 16 is located on the inside of the vault so that said door is always charged with water under pressure whether it is open or closed and said charge cannot be interfered with from the outside of the vault.

This structure is primarily adapted for safes and vaults but, by omitting the concrete of the walls, it is evident that it may be used as a prison cage.

The operation of my device is briefly described as follows :WVhen the valve 7 is opened the entire water body within the floor receptacle, pipes and door receptacle, is under heavy pressure. Now, if a burglar attempts to bore or cut the plates or the walls, or to break them with an explosive, the moment he makes an opening into the water receptacles or pipes a stream of water under heavy pressure immediately issues through the opening and he is prevented from further work at that point and will be drowned out from further operations. Should he similarly interfere with the lock mechanism the same action results through the breaking of the pipe 15 or of its joints to the plates 12 or 13.

Having described my invention, claim is:

In a burglar proof vault, the combination with a base formed of a water receptacle; of walls and ceiling formed of pipes connect ing into said water receptacle; a closure for said walls and ceiling comprising concrete cast about said pipes; and a supply of water under pressure within said base and said pipes.

JAMES D. BANKER.

Witnesses:

DELMONT MILLER, GRANT A. DENTLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G.

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